United Nations – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will attend the inauguration of President Alassane Ouattara’s of Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday, the UN announced on Wednesday.

The media note issued from the Secretary-General’s Spokesperson office  said Ban would travel to Nigeria and Ethiopia after his visit to Cote d’ Ivoire.

“His participation in this event is in light of the special circumstances surrounding the installation of the democratically elected Government in Côte d’Ivoire,’’ the UN said.

Ban is scheduled to meet Ouattara in Yamoussoukro, the official political capital and administrative city of Côte d’Ivoire, after which he would visit Abidjan, to meet with peacekeepers and staff of the UN Mission in the country.

He would also visit a camp for internally displaced people.

According to the statement, the Secretary-General’s travel to Nigeria and Ethiopia is part of the “Every Woman, Every Child” global health effort, which he launched last September during the Millennium Development Goals Summit.

He would also meet the African leaders to discuss regional issues as well as the security, development and human rights agenda in Africa.

“In Nigeria, a country with one of the highest maternal mortality burdens in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Secretary-General will visit a hospital and a primary health care centre to see major improvements underway.

“He will meet with President Goodluck Jonathan and the Cabinet of Nigeria as well as provincial governors to accelerate implementation of the MDGs,’’ the UN announced.

While in Abuja, the UN chief would meet with Nigeria Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.

In Ethiopia, the Secretary-General would visit a rural health extension programme, which trains young women to serve their communities’ health needs, seen as a model for the continent.

The Secretary-General is also scheduled to attend the G8 Summit in Deauville, France, where he will meet with leaders of the G8 and continue to push for a sustained focus on women’s and children’s health as a cornerstone of the development agenda. (NAN)